The two studios reference Norway’s glacier-carved landscape in their designs for the new Fornbuporten and Fornebu Senter stations.

Canyon-like forms will be carved to guide the flow of people in and out of the Fornebu Senter station, in shapes reminiscent of mountains and fjords. At street level public plazas will gradually meld into the entryways.

The northern entrance to Fornbuporten will feature a orthogonal-shaped pavilion and plaza

Meanwhile Fornbuporten will feature a pair of entrance pavilions, positioned beside public spaces on both sides of the station. Both will feature reflective surfaces, designed to cast a spectrum of light across their surroundings.

The northern entrance will feature a orthogonal-shaped pavilion and plaza, while the southern end will comprise an oval canopy set in a park.

Lighting inside the metro stations will change according to the time of day, in order to “enhance passengers’ well-being”.

Fornbuporten’s southern entrance will feature an oval canopy set in a park

Oslo’s population has grown to almost a million, but urban expansion is curtailed by the protected habitats and natural geographies of Oslofjord to the south and the surrounding mountains and forests.

The new Fornebu urban centre is being creating on the site of a decommissioned airport, providing 6,000 homes. The Fornebubanen metro line will connect this area with the Majorstuen interchange in just 12 minutes.

Lights inside the station will change according to the time of day

“The Fornebubanen will be a vital new transport link for the city,” said Gianluca Racana, director of ZahaHadid Architects.

“People have been waiting for the Fornebubanen for a long time,” added Geir Haaversen, founder of A-Lab. “The design of these stations will be crucial for the development of their locations.”

The colour-changing lighting is intended to enhance the passenger experience

Other new buildings being created on the peninsula include New Aquarium, a project by London studio Haptic featuring an undulating roof dome.

Haptic is also working on the design of a sustainable new airport for the city, in collaboration with Nordic Office of Architecture. Billed as “the largest airport in the world”, it is scheduled to complete in 2020.

Construction will begin on the Fornebubanen metro line in 2020, with completion due by 2025.